Algerian Chicken With Chickpeas And Couscous Recipes

LEMON-PAPRIKA CHICKEN WITH CHICKPEAS AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Whisk the lemon juice, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons olive oil, the paprika, thyme, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper. Rub the chicken with 3 tablespoons of the lemon-paprika mixture to evenly coat.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, remove 3 tablespoons liquid from the can of chickpeas and transfer to a medium bowl. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Add to the bowl with the chickpea liquid and add the remaining lemon-paprika mixture and the bell pepper; toss. Flip the chicken and scatter the chickpea mixture around the chicken, scraping any liquid into the pan. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the couscous as the label directs. Fluff the couscous with a fork.
• Remove the chicken to a plate. Add the couscous to the chickpea mixture and stir together to absorb the pan sauce; season with salt and pepper. Slice the chicken and divide among plates along with the couscous-chickpea mixture. Top with the parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

ALGERIAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season mutton chops and chicken drumsticks with salt and pepper; cook in batches with onions in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a large plate.
• Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release browned bits. Return mutton chops and chicken to the pot. Pour in enough water to cover; add turmeric, cumin, and coriander. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer for 20 minutes.
• Stir potatoes, turnips, and carrots into the pot. Simmer, covered, until vegetables start to soften, about 10 minutes. Mix in tomato paste and ras el hanout; cook for 10 minutes. Stir in chickpeas, zucchini, and cilantro; continue cooking, covered, until zucchini is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; remove from heat and stir in couscous and butter. Cover saucepan and let stand until water is absorbed completely, 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Transfer to a serving dish.
• Ladle 2 scoops of cooking liquid into a bowl; mix in harissa until smooth.
• Scoop vegetables onto a serving plate. Scoop mutton and chicken onto a separate plate. Serve alongside couscous, harissa sauce, and remaining cooking liquid in the pot.

ALGERIAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Slice eggplant crosswise, sprinkle with a little salt, toss in a colander, and let drain for 20 minutes; rinse and pat dry.
• Heat oil in a Dutch oven, over medium-low heat; add onions, carrot, peppers, eggplant, chicken, and lamb.
• Cover with water, bring to a boil, season with salt and pepper, cover, reduce heat and let simmer 45 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and green beans, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the couscous: melt butter in a sauce pan over medium-low heat; cook the shallots until translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Add stock, season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Stir in couscous, being careful that no clumps form, cover, remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes.
• Add artichokes and chickpeas to the stew snd heat through.
• To serve: Pile couscous in the center of a serving platter in a cone shape; spoon stew around couscous.

ALGERIAN STEW FOR COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot, e.g. one for soup. Add the onion and the meat and let it take some colour.
• Add enough water or broth to cover the meat, usually about 1 liter. Stir in the spices.
• Add the chickpeas right now, or they will never become soft!
• Let it simmer on low for about 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, add the vegetables, make sure everything is slightly covered with water/broth. Let simmer for another hour.
• After these two hours, vegetables should be soft, and you should be able to tear apart the meat with a spoon, as this is how it is eaten!
• Check for seasoning and serve with steamed couscous!

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKEN AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• In a large deep frying pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over moderately high heat.
• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Put the chicken in the pan and brown well, about 8 minutes in all.
• Remove. Pour off all but 1 tbsp of the fat. Reduce heat to moderately low.
• Add the onion and turnip and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, cumin, cayenne, and 2 1/4 tsp of the salt. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Stir in 4 cups of the water and the carrots.
• Add in the chicken and bring to a simmer.
• Cover and cook, stirring the mixture two or three times, until the chicken and vegetables are almost done, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the chickpeas and parsley and simmer until the chicken and vegetables are done, about 5 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the remaining 1/4 tsp salt and couscous.
• Cover. Remove the pot from the heat and let the couscous stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Serve the stew with its broth over the couscous.

ALGERIAN CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine broth, bouillon, chopped chicken, onion, green beans, carrots, cumin, basil, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and cook about 8 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and zucchini and cook briefly.
• Add garbanzo beans and red pepper.
• Cover and cook until heated through.
• Serve over steaming bowls of couscous.

TRADITIONAL NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS (THE REAL WAY!)

Steps:

• Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic & place it in a large heavy bottomed pan with the meat or chicken, ras el hanout & a little olive oil. Fry gently to seal the meat/chicken. I use my pressure cooker pr large cast iron casserole for this.
• Chop the carrot, parsnip and courgette into 6ths. Cut the potato into 1/4's and roughly chop the swede. Chop khourchef or celery into roughly same size as carrot. (Peel the carrots, potato, parsnip and swede).
• Add the vegetables to the meat along with 1L of water and turn up heat so they begin simmering. If using the chilli add it now, along with salt and pepper. If cooking in a regular pan then cook for 40 minutes like this. If using the pressure cooker as I do then 20 minutes will be enough.
• Add the tomatoes, chick peas and dried mint and 1/2L more water or enough to create a 'stew' consistency.
• Return to heat and cook in pan for further 30 minutes and if using pressure cooker then cook on med to high for a further 25 minutes.
• Take a 500g pack of medium couscous and pour into a gas'a if you have one. If not find the biggest bowl you have. Pick out any 'bits' and sprinkle water - about 50mls and a tsp of salt over the couscous and using your hand rub 1/2 tsp of oil through the couscous to stop it sticking. Fill a couscousier or steamer half full with the couscous (as it swells).
• When you 1st notice steam coming from the couscous, count 10 minutes. After that remove from the steamer, place in gas'a and use your hands to 'open' the couscous (rub it together between hands to remove clumps). This is very hot and you need to keep wetting you hand with cold water and sprinkling a little on the couscous.
• Return to steamer when thoroughly opened. Repeat process of steaming and opening twice more.
• Finally remove from steamer and place back in gas'a. Open for final time and rub a tbsp of ghee or smen into the couscous along with 2tsp of butter or margarine. Add salt to taste.
• Serve the couscous in the gas'a with sauce on top as traditional style or in tagine etc. Usually we place the meat/chicken in place - 1 for each guest and decorate the couscous with the veg before ladling some of the sauce over the top.
• If you used the chilli, put it on a plate and let people help themselves to it!